Don't forget gambling. If it wasn't for people's love of gambling, there would be no stock market. Or professional sports, for that matter. We humans are a gamblin' bunch.

Originally posted by Nohup
Don't forget gambling. If it wasn't for people's love of gambling, there would be no stock market. Or professional sports, for that matter. We humans are a gamblin' bunch.

That is an excellent point, thanks for bringing it up.

On a larger perspective, humans in general are happy to gamble with their money, yes, but also with their lives and their children's lives. Check out Brattney Smears driving her car with a tiny child sitting on her lap... Now that's a gamble that could pay off big: The upside is you save the time involved in buckling up your child, but the downside is that your child is pressed through the steering wheel cheese-grater-style by your own body weight, if you get in a crash.

I think Brattney is the mental model for most Americans, and surely she believes in God as strongly as she believes in her right to gamble with her child's life, right?

Are there any Americans who can straight up admit that they are gambling with their OWN children's lives and futures?

I thought not.

Like I said...

U.N. crime chief says drug money flowed into banks

Published: January 25, 2009

VIENNA: The United Nations' crime and drug watchdog has indications that money made in illicit drug trade has been used to keep banks afloat in the global financial crisis, its head was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Vienna-based UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said in an interview released by Austrian weekly Profil that drug money often became the only available capital when the crisis spiralled out of control last year.

"In many instances, drug money is currently the only liquid investment capital," Costa was quoted as saying by Profil. "In the second half of 2008, liquidity was the banking system's main problem and hence liquid capital became an important factor."

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had found evidence that "interbank loans were funded by money that originated from drug trade and other illegal activities," Costa was quoted as saying. There were "signs that some banks were rescued in that way."

Profil said Costa declined to identify countries or banks which may have received drug money and gave no indication how much cash might be involved. He only said Austria was not on top of his list, Profil said.

...Of course they are pretending to be surprised, but they are not. Also you can check my tinWiki user page for the World Bank Hacked story from a few months ago. That's probably a trigger for a lot of what's been going on because their servers got laid out including all the cash flowz.

The Drug War is something Obama says has failed utterly. But really, I'd say it's succeeded maximally, for those who run it and who throw people into US prisons for dumb weed laws and so forth.

We don't need to end the drug war, but we do need to educate this generation of youth so that we can stop this absurd cycle of governmental recoining and collapse as well as the silly drug laws telling people what medicine or recreation or spiritual ingredient they can or cannot use.

Anyway, wasn't there something about bailing out the multi-billin dollar US porn industry also? It's hard to talk about actual wealth and capital without seeing the porn and drug reciepts so at least this discussion can get started now, after hundreds of years of BS, we are finally getting to the real issues. Hoo-ray!

Yes there are prudes, but it's so weird, the prudes only stop things that would be beneficial to society.

They don't stop drugs from being used, they just limit the legal choices to the worst possible drugs(alochol, cigarettes, and prescription drugs), while forcing the illegal drugs to go through the hands of gangs aka the street corporations, who deal with violence and murder more directly than your standard corporations do. Making them illegal also doesn't help with proper usage of the drugs, it creates more addicts and causes more overdoses. Instead of treating addicts like sick people who need help, they're treated like criminals. there should be no jail time for using drugs. if they're abusing drugs, they need help, not prison.

Legalize all drugs, and try and make using them as safe a process as possible. make the effects and side effects of all drugs well known. put studies together to find the proper dosages, establish proper treatments and treatment centers for addiction, and let go of the taboo's and misconceptions that characterize drug users as bad people.

Sex. man, it's so weird. I'd call people hypocrites but I think they've deluded themselves and aren't aware of the hypocrisy. Especially parents who want to keep sex away from their children and characterize it as a bad thing. Well gee moms, didn't you have sex? Or did virgin mothers suddenly become the norm? Don't lie to your kids. Don't lie to yourself first of all, because most of the people looking to suppress sex are lying to themselves. I don't think most of them even remember what it's like to be a teenager. I do. I was ready to have sex when I was a teen. and that sex could have been with any attractive woman, of any age. I didn't care if they were 13 or 30. Hell I masturbated to more 30 year olds than 13 year old's since porn was readily available and legal for 30 year old's That's why I hate these to catch a predator shows. They set up men looking to have consensual sex with a teenager. a teenager who wants to have sex, is talking about sex, and is inviting the man over for the purpose of having sex. I'm not blinded by this illusion of innocence that's being propagated by the prudes who demonize sex. Your child is not innocent. She's capable of making her own decisions. Sex is not bad. People wanting to have sex with your daughter are not bad people for wanting to do that, no matter their age. Why? because sex is not bad, remember? I just said that. if you weren't so blinded with rage maybe you'd of heard/read that, and tried to understand it, then realized the truth.

Lower the age of consent. make prostitution legal. Get rid of the misconceptions surrounding sex. no, you can't go blind from masturbating. nobody knows how god feels about birth control or abortion(no mention of it in the books "directly" from an "all-knowing god") . No, homosexuality is not a sin. the list goes on. Get rid of all of the taboo's. Doesn't matter who has sex or how they have sex as long as it's consensual. Even when it's not, I'm not that upset about it. I think rape's overrated, and I don't particularly like how society reacts to rapists. I just don't know how wise it is to not show any sympathy or try to gain any understanding from criminals. Doesn't seem too intelligent to me treat them like beasts. Doesn't look to have had such great results either does it? you think rape's going away any time soon? Not with society's archaic thoughts and laws. We need some progress here if we want real solutions.

The most powerful people in society are capable of and often do control public opinion. It's these same people involved in the drug trade and sex slavery, some directly involved(using the drugs, having sex with slaves/prostitutes/altar boys), while others are merely indirectly involved. they profit from these things, cover up these things, but don't directly partake in them. But either way they are facilitating these illegal activities with one hand, while the other hand is condemning these illegal activities and telling the public it's wrong to do such things. Why? well there are any number of reasons, but I think the main reason they'll let the prudes stay in ignorance is that sex and drugs are the two most powerful and profitable commodities/services. Why wouldn't governments want to have control over that? Especially when the government is in bed with the banks, and has the street gangs on a leash, doing as they command. By making drugs and prostitution illegal, it opens up the opportunity for them to hold a monopoly over both. If any citizen could grow their own weed, or walk down the block and visit a brothel in the middle of the day, They aren't going to get the same type of profits. They can manipulate the drug trade covertly, and spend the money on black projects. It's pretty well known on this site how involved the C.I.A. is in the drug trade, and I wonder how involved governments are in the sex slave trade. bush jr goons are linked to Dyncorp,(known to be involved in human trafficking) and don't forget bush sr.'s goons were linked to child sex slaves/prostitutes.

Even if we were in some fantasy land where the government wasn't involved, anyone whose eyes are focused on reality can see that the gangs are too powerful. they can't be stopped by the law. slowed down? haha, well, if the prisons weren't taken over by the gangs that might be true. But the prisons are taken over by gangs. The system lost. they can't outlaw drugs or sex. they're too powerfu, humans are too drawn to theml. the government can either manipulate the drug trade secretly and take the profits to use on black projects to further their own power, or they allow the free market to get a crack at offering up sex and drugs, taking the power out of the gangs hands, and their own hands as well. If we let the government make that decision, I don't think we'll like the results. I think our current results are the results of letting the government make that decision. We have to demand the legalization of sex and drugs. This is a cause everyone needs to support, even if you don't plan on visiting any brothels or doing any drugs. If you wante safety, then you take the drugs out of violent hands, and let the legitimate corporations get the opportunity to dope us further with drugs, and actually get the chance to offer us the sex they've been subliminally(and not so subliminally) marketing to us in just about every advertisement in existence.

Originally posted by ThePiemaker
Sex. man, it's so weird.

I can't argue with you. But the ideas you raise would require a stronger family unit with mom and dad empowered as a unit, and with also community support. How shall families change their communities when they all eat hand to mouth? No, the commune, itself, is the enemy. So any "commune-ity" is going to have to be controlled by the "central committee" or PTB. But then many Americans would say its good that agents infiltrated David Koresh (for example) to save 'the children'... They don't care that the children get fed into the foster care system, it's more of a political thing, but still, it gets results.

Get rid of all of the taboo's. Doesn't matter who has sex or how they have sex as long as it's consensual. Even when it's not, I'm not that upset about it. I think rape's overrated, and I don't particularly like how society reacts to rapists. I just don't know how wise it is to not show any sympathy or try to gain any understanding from criminals.

You raise interesting points. Whereas rape isn't overrated for the victims, I do understand what the sentiment is. If one gives something power, then it becomes powerful in itself. So my solution would be to make it easier for all citizens to arm themselves with tazer or non-violent method, including also deadly force if they feel it necessary. This is the simplest answer to rape. The dialogue you raise, can be had at any time after that. The laws are actually looking to create more victims, I think.

The most powerful people in society [...] are facilitating these illegal activities with one hand, while the other hand is condemning these illegal activities and telling the public it's wrong to do such things. Why? well there are any number of reasons, but I think the main reason they'll let the prudes stay in ignorance is that sex and drugs are the two most powerful and profitable commodities/services.

Seems logical [:spock:]

But the prisons are taken over by gangs. The system lost. they can't outlaw drugs or sex.

Here's where I'd say this: It serves the prison power, which is profitable, and easily merged with the job-finding and large-scale infrastructure building powers. I am not in favor of UPC codes, though they make a Hershey bar more easy to buy.

We have to demand the legalization of sex and drugs. This is a cause everyone needs to support, even if you don't plan on visiting any brothels or doing any drugs.

You've summed up my whole point. Thanks.

If you wante safety, then you take the drugs out of violent hands, and let the legitimate corporations get the opportunity to dope us further with drugs, and actually get the chance to offer us the sex they've been subliminally(and not so subliminally) marketing to us in just about every advertisement in existence.

How shall corporations do so? Also would the church powers merge with it?

Main problem seems to be this: Confession of sins provides a far reaching mechanism into the operations of Earth's people. How shall we keep the information power of confessionals operating? Certainly the information power is non-national and non-poltical, it is ingratiating.

What I am saying is that what if confessions was altered in such a way that a person could opt to have their confession be aired on TV? I asked this of another religious friend recently. I said "What if th church member wants their confession and their punishment to be public? Is it allowed?" ...The answer was no.

I think the reason that any confessional religion wants privacy of confession, is for the power and allure that comes on the other side of the wicker. If the people demansd to hear their own confessions (in the manner I am here describing) perhaps that might result in a more self-aware human race? If we could all hear each other's confessions?

Even if some power were given away, the church and the priests of all faiths could still exist and needn't even defend themselves. Just allow all the world's confessions be seen (if the confessor desires) and heard by anyone who wants to hear or watch, maybe even on broadcast tv.

Nobody even has to lose their job. All that shifts, is power.

But shifting the gearshift of power, is maybe like shifting a manual transmission without a clutch. It's impossible, until you get the RPMs just right?

[edit on 27-1-2009 by smallpeeps]

Its one thing to point out this most obvious fact, or at least it has always seemed obvious to me, and I believe that legalizing drugs is the answer, however, its the sex slave market and what it means to wake up, and get hip to this kind of thing. What does that mean? I may be aware of it, but no one owns me, they do not empower me. There are many people I will perform a citzen's arrest on should they show up near my doorstep. But then I'm the crazy one in my neighborhood. Someone says they own me, I say bring it!!!!
Come to my doorstep, get in my face. Because I have quite a lot to say to you!!!!

Being aware of the way pyschos and "bad guys" have run this world and system, and much of this black market is tied into the bloodlines and the cia, and black op system, is not the same thing as empowering it. But accepting slaves, no!!! Legalizing drugs is one thing. Legalizing slaves, no!!!! I like answers along with pointing out the problems. So far, the watchful ones aren't the rich and powerful, and are too few and far between!

I'm on board with legalization of vices, but I think it's obvious that it will never happen in the US. A good alternative is the fair tax. If we tax money when it's spent rather than when it's earned...the illegal money gets the same hit as legitimate earnings.

Personally I think it all goes way beyond waking millions more up, they just don't get it. I want an army of Steven Seigalls to rescue the sex slaves pronto.

Originally posted by mystiq
however, its the sex slave market and what it means to wake up, and get hip to this kind of thing. What does that mean?

But accepting slaves, no!!! Legalizing drugs is one thing. Legalizing slaves, no!!!!

Children are slaves to their family, that cannot be denied. Yet the issues raised above, are scandalously hot, too much so to even be discussed in any irrationally delphid and controlled place like this.

Explain to me what your specific issue is, mystiq. Is it that little girls and boys will be used for sex purposes? That already happens, has happened, and will continue to happen. Even right now, very few Mullahs will discuss their prophet's favorite girlwife. Also, for the westerners, boylove is clearly part of the beltway insider groove, isn't it? Seems obvious to me that Leonidas' movie 300 didn't include that boylove part of the whole spartanic mythos, maybe because it might have affected ticket sales? NAMBLA is accepted as a funny bunch of weirdos yet Nabokov's "Lolita" is scandalous in all incarnations. Seems like one branch provides soldiers while the other provides young mothers. One is clearly preferred by the warlords, the other, is not.

Yes, I agree, sex slavery is not good. That won't cause you or me to be able to eradicate it, nor the desire for it. What we can do, is be more intellectually honest. We perpetuate an idea that 18 or 21 are some ages where prior to which we are innocent? Billions participate in that delusion, daily. In fact if you don't, there's significant penalties.

To prevent the victimization of children in the light of what I am describing in this thread (and issues raised by others), I suggest the native way, which is the group of families, who educate or defend their kids against bad ideas or against being victimized. An indian child has always known how to push a knife between an enemy's ribs, but when did someone say that was a bad thing, to have children be armed?

But surely children will be armed, forever, by some parties. Now are they armed with AK-47's or are they armed with viagra, for rape crimes against say, elderly women? There are many ways to make children into monsters without their even knowing.

But in the final analysis, all of us adults, are really not fully actualized humans because sex and military education (history) are both shuffed off onto the gummint who wishes us to be docile, contolled little beasties.

Humans no longer have spirit journeys or sun dances to process the basic revelatory moments between childhood and adulthood. Is anyone saying that sex is evil? No, but a world that propagates ignorance of it, and which claims to "protect the children" but which actually fracks up their world, is insane. Someday, a generation of adult-children will realize they never got raised properly, and at that moment they will change how all children on Earth, are treated. I don't think it'll be done in any God's name, but in the name of "the children". Until that happens, children are just resources to the people in charge. Commodities is what humans are, in this age which is passing.

Yeah, like in that movie "Hostel" where sadists actually bid on humans, whom they intend to torture? Truth is often said to be stranger than fiction. I share your disgust, and I think that there isn't much of a way to stop the pain until there is full intellectual and spiritual honesty from all parents.